On day seven of Freemen standoff, outsiders offer help

March 31, 1996
Web posted at: 9:00 p.m. EST

JORDAN, Montana (CNN) -- The FBI will not accept an offer
from white separatist Randy Weaver to help end the standoff
between members of a Montana anti-government group and
federal agents, sources told CNN Sunday.

Weaver, whose wife and son were killed in a stand-off with
federal agents four years ago in Ruby Ridge, Idaho, offered
to help negotiate with the "Freemen," who have been holed up
on a ranch in east-central Montana since Monday.

Sen. Max Baucus, D-Montana, who visited Jordan Sunday to
survey the situation, was adamantly opposed to the idea of
enlisting Weaver's help.

"I just think it's a rotten idea," said Baucus. "I think it's
in part an attempt by Weaver to draw attention to himself,
and I hope he resists that temptation."

Instead Baucus said the problem should be resolved locally.
He suggested federal agents let friends and family members of
those on the Montana ranch persuade them to give themselves
up.

The FBI's week-long strategy of patience paid off Saturday
with the surrender of Richard Clark, one of 10 fugitive
members of the Freemen group wanted on conspiracy and fraud
charges. Clark gave himself up at a friend's ranch in nearby
Grass Range.

The FBI is determined to produce further peaceful surrenders
of the seven fugitive Freemen still holed up on the Montana
ranch.

Former FBI director William Sessions said he agrees with how
federal agents are handling the standoff.

"They're trying to minimize the possibility of violence.
They're trying to be respectful of what they're seeing out
there with those people who disagree strongly with their
government. (They're) trying to be respectful of it, and yet
make sure the rule of law prevails," he said.

The Freemen do not recognize the authority of the federal
government. Indictments charge 12 Freemen members with
multiple offenses, including conspiracy, armed robbery, fraud
and threats to kill a federal judge.

A member of the self-proclaimed North Michigan militia,
Norman Olson stands behind the Freemen and says he wants to
head to Montana.

"This country was born in conflict with the militia standing
up against a bona-fide government that was terrifying and
tyrannizing and oppressing the people," Olson said Sunday on
CBS's "Face the Nation." "These people in Montana have given
the finger to the federal government and the federal
government can't have that, so they must suppress them and
tyrannize them and destroy them." (111K AIFF sound or 111K WAV sound)

There have been reports of a militia convoy headed from other
states to Montana to deliver food, mattresses and other
supplies to the Freemen. Sources told CNN Sunday the FBI will
not allow any such convoy to enter the compound.

Montana militia members have asked other militia group
members to stay away.

"What we had in mind was if anyone from another state wishes
to come visit Montana they better do it without their guns.
We don't need help from other states," said Montana Militia
leader John Trochmann, speaking on ABC. "We would like to see
a peaceful settlement to this, just like everyone else would."

Trochmann went on to say, "Now if we look at the federal
agencies and their actions at Randy Weaver and at Waco, they
have not acted like that this time. Perhaps they've learned
something," he said.

The FBI has kept roads open surrounding the ranch, allowing
some family members in, but only after food and weapons
searches. Agents have turned away some freemen sympathizers,
but Sunday agents let three young women enter the ranch. Each
waved pieces of white rag apparently to show they meant no
harm to anyone. It is believed they are trying to talk the
Freemen into ending their stalemate.

The FBI believes the Freemen have stockpiled enough food and
fuel to last two months. They are heavily armed. Accounts
vary on how many people are on the 960-acre ranch which the
Freemen have dubbed "Justus Township." Some federal
officials report about 15, but the son of one of the Freemen
claimed there was as many as 60.

People in the small farming community of Jordan near the
Freemen compound agree the FBI's non-violent approach is the
way to go.

"I think it's great because they could have gone in there
with their guns blazing but instead, they're giving them time
to think it out," said a local rancher.

Many others in the community agreed, saying the best way to
solve the problem with the Freemen is without outsiders.

"People are just flat tired of these guys. We don't want more
militia to come out," said Tom Cohn, a local school teacher.
"We want this to end without bloodshed." (119K AIFF sound or 119K WAV sound)